Business leader calls for support from Northampton for dyslexia campaign

Reporter

The founder of a Northampton-based technology firm is leading a campaign to raise awareness of dyslexia.

Debra Charles, CEO of Novacroft, is appealing for members of the public to join the appeal to showcase the positives of dyslexia.

Businesses, employees, parents and students are encouraged to upload short film clips to the Novacroft website, talking about how dyslexia has been a positive attribute in their life.

The 30-second clips will then be combined to create a video to be launched to the public as a tool to empower success and change attitudes towards dyslexia in schools and the workplace.

Spearheaded by Debra Charles, Novacroft’s founder and CEO, who is dyslexic herself, the campaign was out of her realisation that within educational institutions and the workplace, perceptions and attitudes are outdated and, in some cases, extremely damaging to those who might have spent life marginalised by the rest of society.

Novacroft is committed to improving the perception of dyslexia, enabling success and celebrating achievements.

Ms Charles said: “I’m one of the estimated 20% of dyslexic entrepreneurs in the UK, and it took me a long time to realise that the perceived barriers of dyslexia were barriers that I put in my own way, and that the strength to overcome them came from me, from valuing myself and my own ideas.

“I honestly believe that my success is because of, not despite, dyslexia. That’s why I’m passionate about celebrating and valuing differences, and why perceptions of ‘normal’ need to change. Working together, we can make a difference.”